Reading my child/s Report

Reading Your Child's School Report

Primary schools are required to provide a twice-yearly report for students in Kindergarten through to Year 6. Teachers write the reports and award grades in line with the NSW K-10 Syllabus outcomes and the Diocese of Wollongong Religious Education Curriculum.

As you may be aware, the NSW Educational Standards Authority (NESA) have undertaken a comprehensive review of the NSW Curriculum, leading to curriculum reform and subsequent implementation of a reformed curriculum which commenced in 2023. In response to the curriculum changes, Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong has made significant modifications to student semester reports for Primary schools to better reflect your child's academic progress at key points throughout the year and provide parents and carers with a clear picture of their child’s strengths and areas for improvement in specific subject areas.

The following changes will be evident in your child’s semester report from Semester 1 2024: 

• A ‘new look’ report format released via Compass reflecting the outcomes of the new K-10 English and Mathematics syllabuses providing a descriptor for each of the focus areas found in the respective syllabuses
• All Kindergarten students will now receive a written report in Semester 1 and Semester 2 with a three-point grade scale used to report student achievement using the following performance descriptors:
  • Thorough
  • Sound 
  • Basic
• Students in Year 1 - Year 6 will continue to receive semester reports twice a year with a five-point grade scale used to report student achievement using the following performance descriptors: 
  • Extensive
  • Thorough
  • Sound
  • Basic
  • Elementary 

Awarding Grades

A grade is awarded based on the evidence teachers have of a student’s learning and performance in a particular KLA and the standard it reflects against what has been taught at this point in time. According to the 5 Point Grade Scale, ‘Sound’ in a particular KLA, indicates the student has demonstrated that they have gained the knowledge, skills and understanding expected of them at that point in time.

It is not unusual for a student’s overall grade to change from one reporting period to the next as the knowledge, skills and understandings they learn in each KLA will vary from one reporting period to the next.

In the Positive Behaviours for Learning section of the report, a 3-point grade scale is used to report on your child as a learner and a community member. This focuses on the student's non-academic behaviour, identifying social skills and behaviours that build well-being and contribute to positive learning outcomes in school settings. The following performance descriptors are used: 

• Consistently 
• Sometimes
• Rarely 

We look forward to this positive shift in our reporting system and appreciate your continued support in your child's educational journey.

I will be facilitating a session, How To Read Your Child’s Report on Wednesday 26 June at 2.15-2.45pm in the school hall. This session will further explain the grading of Reports and will be an opportunity for parents to ask questions.